ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Amherst College volleyball team improves to 7-0 on the season, going undefeated in the Rochester Invitational this weekend.
The Mammoths battled to defeat the SUNY Geneseo Knights in 4 sets, going 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, and 25-23. Later that afternoon, the Mammoths swept Buffalo State, 25-22, 25-18, 25-18.
The Mammoths will look to continue their undefeated streak when they face Clark University this Tuesday, Sept. 17, back in Amherst.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS vs SUNY GENESEO
* The first set of the match set the tone for the afternoon, with the Mammoths and Knights trading points back and forth. The Mammoths went on a three-point streak off of three straight kills by Charlotte Rasmussen to take the lead 11-7. The Knights did not let up and tied the set at 12-12. The Mammoths had more to give, however, and a service ace from Lizzie Papalia, kills by Kinsey Cronin, and a block from Renee Liou helped the Mammoths claim the set, 25-19.
* The Mammoths started strong in the second set, with Chideraa Ngwadom scoring off three kills. The Knights rallied to stay alive, scoring 4 straight points late in the set and taking control of the set with two consecutive kills. The Knights narrowly took the set, 25-23.
* The third set was tied at 8-8, but the Mammoths scored 10 out of the next 12 points to take the lead 18-12. Two strong kills from Brielle Renwick let the Mammoths win the set, 25-22.
* In the final set of the match, Ngwadom and Renwick combined for five total kills. The Mammoths took a 14-10 lead after a solo block from Ngwadom. Kills from Cronin continued the momentum for the Mammoths, and Rasmussen had the final kill of the set, lifting the Mammoths to victory with a 25-23 defeat.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS vs BUFFALO STATE
* The Mammoths started off slowly against Buffalo State, losing the first six points, but three straight kills from Sofia Camilo helped the Mammoths stay alive. Six kills from sophomore Allie McLaughlin helped close the gap, bringing the score to 16-18. The Mammoths continued to rally, taking the lead off two kills from Rasmussen. Cronin and Liou combined for a block, and Rasmussen capped the set off with a kill to win 25-22.
* In the second set, the Mammoths came out hot, with Liou, Rasmussen, and Papalia all notching service aces to control the score, 10-2. The momentum continued with kills from Cronin and McLaughlin. McLaughlin also notched a service ace. Rasmussen ended the set with a kill, 25-18.
* In the final set of the afternoon, the Mammoths continued to score off kills from Rasmussen and McLaughlin. McLaughlin and Renwick combined for a block, and the Mammoths took a commanding lead with a score of 13-5. The scoring never ceased, with Rasmussen earning a service ace, Renwick earning a solo block, and McLaughlin getting yet another kill. The Mammoths won the third set 25-18.
BY THE NUMBERS
* Papalia tallied 18 digs in the first match and 21 digs against Buffalo State while Liou recorded 42 and 39 assists on the day.
* Rasmussen led the Mammoths with 28 kills on the day. Ngwadom recorded 10 kills against SUNY Geneseo.
* Cronin totaled 7 blocks on the day.
